Short Summary

In keeping with its agreement to further economic and social ties with the Congo, East Germany has been flying-in cargoes of gifts and essential supplies.

Description

In keeping with its agreement to further economic and social ties with the Congo, East Germany has been flying-in cargoes of gifts and essential supplies.

SYNOPSIS: The latest batch of gifts arrived aboard an East German aircraft last week. It was the second such load to be sent to the Congo in the past few months. The East German decision to send essential supplies follows last year's visit of the Congolese President, Joachim Yjombi-Opango, to the German Democratic Republic. The East German Ambassador to the Congo, Werner Dordan, was present to hand over the cargo, and was greeted at the airport by Georges N'Boma, an official at the Congolese Ministry of Commerce.

The latest consignment consisted of 11 tons of various goods estimated to be worth over 400,000 U.S. dollars. The Congo, which is ruled by a Marxist-Leninist government, has recently looked more towards developing closer economic ties with other socialist states. In the past year Bulgaria, Hungary and Cuba have all signed agreements offering economic, cultural and political aid to the former French colony. The Congo has a chronic visible trade deficit, and faced with increasing economic instability, relies heavily on foreign financial and technical aid to boost its ailing economy.